Chapter 30

Orcs

A gentle, insistent hand shaking her shoulder woke her before dawn. She opened one eye and glared, and Captain or not, if the big elf had not had a cup of tea in his hands, he may have faced an extremely painful punishment and an untimely death. Taking the cup from him, she held it between her hands, warming them from the night's chill.

The other elves were packing up the camp and as Súrion walked by her, he did a double take, then suddenly burst out laughing. Soon Semoro and Saeros "accidentally" walked by and both looked like cats trying to cough up fur balls as they attempted, not quite successfully, to smother their own laughs.

She scowled at the three.

"What is wrong with the three of you? Rahan, what is wrong with your children?"

Rahan said nothing as he too was trying to smother a laugh. All he did was tap his own eye then point at her.

"No! Rahan, do I have a black eye! Oh sweet Eru. Semoro, you did this on purpose – I know you did."

Semoro turned to her and held his hands in a "who, me?" gesture.

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The elves broke camp and began the long trip back to Imladris. It would do no good to try to go after the demon again because the creature now knew it was being hunted in its own territory and would be keeping itself cleverly hidden, not allowing itself to be caught in the open again.

They rode in silence for a time, each elf thinking of their experience of the night before and when dusk approached them they were still quiet.

Anayah frowned, feeling at a loss about how to proceed with the current problem of finding the demon and wishing with all her heart that she could talk to Gandalf about what was going on. The old grey wizard always seemed to know in exactly which direction to guide her thoughts when she lost faith in her own ability to figure things out. The Grey Wizard never gave her the answers – he just put her back on the track she should have been on in the first place.

The pieces of the puzzle started to come together; the creaking and groaning of the house; the attack of the giant bats; the unnatural fog; the tree that just "happened" to get struck by lightning as she walked by - it all started to fit together. The demon would not be causing these things for his domain was not so petty, his particular arena of influence being that of major catastrophic events. No, whoever was responsible for these little occurrences would have to be familiar with magic - this had to be the work of someone who knew of magic and could cast spells. It made sense, she told herself, that these smaller events had to be the work of a wizard and probably the same one that created the demon's existence in the first place – this wizard was probably trying to protect his creation by creating problems for her. But what wizard could wield that type of power? The only three wizards she knew were Radagast, Gandalf and the old "prune-face, Saruman." She knew she could rule out Radagast and Gandalf for they were too wise and kind. That only left ... could it possibly be?

Anayah was brought sharply out of her musings when Elias rose high into the air, calling out a challenge to an enemy only his senses had detected. The four members of her Guard instantly became alert, also looking around them for any signs of danger or anything that would be foolish enough to challenge their progress through the countryside.

Not knowing what her stallion had sensed, but trusting him anyway, she loosened her sword in its scabbard preparing herself for any eventuality that might arise. Even though the light was dim as the sun sank over the tops of the far off mountains, it did not impede the elves who could see as well at night as they could in the daylight.

The orcs came at them from the surrounding forest while the elves, seeing their avenue of escape quickly cut off, jumped off their horses as quickly as they could, sending the animals off to safety with firm pats on their hindquarters.

Ten orcs for each of us, which means 50 orcs altogether - not bad odds, she told herself as she squared off her stance and waited for the snarling, yelling creatures to reach her. From over her shoulders, arrows started flying by as the archers started firing. Then all five of them were plunged into the thick of the battle, the elves with swords, trying to keep the orcs away from their archers until, finally, they too, had to go to either their long knives or their swords.

Anayah noticed that these orcs were only lightly armored and so she split her sword and waded into the battle, her ebony blades cutting through flesh and bones almost like a hot knife through butter.

Rahan had the uncanny ability to know where everybody was during a particular battle and so was aware of any difficulties that arose. His responsibility, however, was to Anayah and so he did his best to stay as close to her as he could in case she should get into trouble. He happened to be looking in her direction when she split her sword and made a mental note to himself to ask her how she did that, then his attention was brought back to the business at hand.

During one lull in the fighting, he glanced over at the young she-elf and watched as she approached one of the larger orcs, her swords weaving intricate defensive patterns as she severed his sword arm from his body then with a backhanded arc, decapitated the smaller orc standing behind him.

It was an unremarkable battle and was soon over.

For a few moments, Anayah bent over, hands on her knees, catching her breath and when she stood up, she was a healer, checking her comrades for injuries.

"Was anybody hurt? Any scratches or major or minor boo boos? Does anybody need a hug?"

They all laughed and Súrion picked up a handful of grass and threw it at her.

"Rahan."

The big Captain walked up to her.

"Can you tell me what that was all about? What are orcs doing in this part of the country? They've never been a problem in this area before!"

He thought a moment before he answered.

"I was trying to figure that one out myself but I can honestly tell you that I do not know why they were here. I do, however, suggest that we salvage our arrows and move on as quickly as possible because, as improbable as their presence here may have been, I do not want to stick around and see what other surprises might come our way."

As she turned back to the dead orcs to help salvage arrows, she nodded.

"I agree with you there, Rahan. Let us be as quick about this as we can."

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The five elves had just finished salvaging their arrows when more orcs broke out of the trees and ran, screaming, right at them. Having had her back to the approaching enemy, Anayah spun.

"What the ...?" Was about all she managed to say before she was again forced to join the battle.

She glanced over at the others and saw that they had already begun fighting the orcs that came at them out of the surrounding forest. Though she had not gotten the chance to count or even estimate the number of orcs they now fought, for some reason, they seemed to engage the enemy quicker - perhaps because they had begun the fight already battle-fatigued.

She looked up from the dead orc at her feet to see another creature running at her and not having time to bring her sword up to defend herself, she waited as long as she could then brought her knee up into the orc's groin. When he bent over, clutching himself, she swung her forearm and caught him in the temple, sending him to the earth, unconscious, where she quickly ended his life by sinking the tip of her sword deeply into his chest.

Before she could withdraw her sword, she was hit from the side by another orc and taken to the ground with the creature's hands wrapped around her throat. Trying to ignore the pain as well as the darkness that was creeping slowly across her vision, her hands groped on the ground beside her for anything that could be used as a weapon. Her right hand found the spent and broken shaft of an arrow and with all her remaining strength, she brought her right arm around and jammed the shaft into the ear canal of the orc trying to take her life. His black blood flooded from his ear and onto her chest as his life fled him and he went limp.

The body suddenly disappeared and a strong hand grabbed her arm, bringing her quickly to her feet.

"Are you ok?"

Rahan look at her worriedly but before she could answer, she saw something else. Grabbing her Captain around the neck with her right arm she lifted both feet off the ground, kicking out and catching an orc in the sternum, propelling him backwards where Saeros caught him from behind and easily slit his throat.

After nodding to Saeros, she turned to Rahan.

"I am fine. And you?" Her hand flew to her throat in surprise at the squeaking sounds her efforts at speech had produced so instead of trying again to make herself understood, she took her fist and tapped the big elf twice over his heart then turned back to the battle.

As Rahan turned, he discovered another orc already inside the attack perimeter of his sword and so he raised his hand, stiffened his knuckles and drove them into the larynx of the orc. It spluttered and gagged, choking on its own blood until Rahan finally raised his sword and put it out of its misery.

Though the number of orcs threatened to overwhelm the five elves, they fought with even more determination.

Súrion was knocked to the ground when a wounded orc fell against him as it died and when an orc saw him on the ground, he stood over the silver-haired elf, raising his scimitar for a killing blow. Súrion drove his fist into the first and most tender part of the orc that he could reach causing the orc to stumble backwards into Saeros who then grabbed the orc by both sides of his head and with a sudden twist, broke its neck.

Still on the ground, and still vulnerable, Súrion grabbed his sword and hamstrung an orc that was standing within reach and as the orc fell backward, he fell onto the wood elf's sword – dead in less than a heart beat.

Finally, it was over. Súrion lay where he was, trying to catch his breath and Anayah, crawling over to him, then seeing that he was unhurt, collapsed to the ground with her head resting on his stomach, trying to catch her own breath.

Her voice was still not her own, which made her next remark all the more amusing.

"I think I need a hug!" Each word, barely understandable, came out as a squeak.

She felt as Súrion raise his hand then gently and tiredly pat her on the head.

Then Rahan was standing over her, extending a hand to help her rise.

"Come, young one. I want to check your throat."

"Why? There is nothing wrong with my throat." Each word was painfully squeaked out after which her head began to bounce as Súrion started to chuckle.

She grabbed Rahan's offered hand and was pulled to her feet, where she turned and shot her "bouncing pillow" a mock glare.

After a careful examination, the Captain found nothing broken in her throat although the swelling would prevent her voice from sounding normal for a while. He took a small tin out of his tunic pocket, opened it, and took out a small round ball.

"Here, chew this, it will help."

Obediently, Anayah popped the small ball into her mouth then immediately spit the thing out into her hand. She glared at Rahan.

"This is nasty tasting - what are you trying to do, kill me?" She squeaked at him. "This tastes like it was made out of something that has been dead for about a year - at least."

Rahan just raised an eyebrow and pointed at the ball laying in her hand, which she again popped into her mouth. She did have to admit that her throat felt better after she had finished chewing the vile-tasting thing.

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It was now full dark and the five elves hoped that they had seen the last of their problems for the evening. They were about to call their horses when the ground suddenly lurched beneath their feet and when they all looked down and saw nothing, they then looked at one another, completely puzzled.

They did not remain puzzled for long as the forest again erupted with the battle cry of orcs.

"You have GOT to be kidding me!" She managed to squeak.

As the third wave of orcs came toward them, the elves squared themselves off, waiting to engage their attackers – again. Just as sword met scimitar, the earth again rumbled, this time giving a mighty heave. Several large fissures started to appear around them, claiming several orcs in the process and when the five elves saw this, they started to back away, especially when flames started to shoot out of the new fissures.

Just when the elves were about ready to turn around to run, a third earthquake hit causing the ground under Rahan's feet to heave upwards, throwing him forward, a nasty looking fissure appearing directly behind him. Seeing the Captain go to his knees, Anayah started to go to him, even after flames started shooting out of the newly formed crack in the earth. The fissure continued to widen and lengthen, effectively cutting the elf off from the others.

Rahan looked behind him and when he saw Anayah start to come after him, he held up his hand and called to his brother.

"No, Anayah stay back. Semoro, get her out of here."

Semoro grabbed her around the waist but when she saw the orcs surrounding her Captain, she tried to get to him and Semoro had to call to the remaining two elves to help control a kicking and screaming Anayah as she tried to go to Rahan's aid.

Finally, with Semoro on one side of her and Saeros on the other, they turned and ran, but not before Anayah saw them start to beat her Captain – and friend.

TBC

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COMING NEXT: Left Behind: His eyes opened, already filled with understanding although he remained silent, his dark eyes looking at her sadly.

"I am going to leave my dagger laying by your hand. If the worst should happen and I should fall – well, the dagger will be here for you to use however you see fit."

Weakly he raised a hand and wiped a tear from her cheek.

"Fight well, young one." The words died away and his eyes closed once more.

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Soccer-Bitch: Thanks for the review. The pain never really goes away when we lose someone that we love. But each day makes it a little easier to bear and we become stronger for it. I lost a pair of twin girls many years ago so I understand well, the pain of losing someone I love. I am Ojibwe (Chippewa) and in my culture, we believe that when a person dies they go to their spirit home where they are met and welcomed by all their ancestors. The spirit home is a beautiful place, a place of peace and contentment and a place where there are no worries, no pain and no confusion. Our ancestors watch over us from this place. But the important thing is that when our time times this same thing will happen to us and in your case, your Grandfather will be there to welcome you home. Tolkien wrote about it in Fellowship of the Ring, and in Return of the King, Gandalf describes death to Pippin in Minas Tirith.

The journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path – one that we all must take. The grey rain curtain of this world rolls back and all turns to silver glass. And then you see it. White shores and beyond a far green country under a swift sunrise.

Hope this helps.

THECheeseTurkey(): Thanks for the review. Don't worry – I will eventually get to it if I can keep this bucket of bolts I call a computer running. Hope you enjoy this chapter.